Vehicle approach informing device

Abstract

A vehicle approach informing device includes: an informing sound output unit to output informing sound for informing to a pedestrian outside a vehicle that the vehicle is approaching when a predetermined condition is satisfied; a sound volume control unit to control the volume of the informing sound outputted by the informing sound output unit; and a shield detection unit to detect a shield present on any side ahead in a running direction of the vehicle. When a shield is detected by the shield detection unit, the sound volume control unit reduces the volume of the informing sound which is outputted by the informing sound output unit.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle approach informing device comprising:
 an informing sound output unit to output informing sound for informing a pedestrian outside a vehicle that the vehicle is approaching when a predetermined condition is satisfied; 
 a sound volume control unit to control the volume of the informing sound outputted by the informing sound output unit; and 
 a shield detection unit configured to detect a shield present on any side ahead in the running direction of the vehicle, 
 wherein, when a shield is detected by the shield detection unit, the sound volume control unit reduces the sound volume of the informing sound to be outputted by the informing sound output unit, and 
 wherein when a shield is detected on each of both sides ahead in the running direction of the vehicle by the shield detection unit, the sound volume control unit reduces the volume of the informing sound to a lower level than the volume of the informing sound when a shield is detected only on one side ahead in the running direction of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle approach informing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the shield detection unit includes a distance measurement unit to measure a distance between the detected shield and the vehicle; and 
 the sound volume control unit controls the volume of the informing sound to be outputted by the informing sound output unit according to the distance measured by the distance measurement unit. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle approach informing device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the shield detection unit includes a space interval measurement unit configured to measure a space interval between the detected shield and the corresponding side of the vehicle; and 
 the sound volume control unit controls the volume of the informing sound to be outputted by the informing sound output unit according to the space interval measured by the space interval measurement unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle approach informing device according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the shield detection unit includes a height measurement unit configured to measure a height of the detected shield; and 
 the sound volume control unit controls the volume of the informing sound to be outputted by the informing sound output unit according to the height of the shield measured by the height measurement unit. 
 
     
     
       5. The vehicle approach informing device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the shield detection unit includes a height measurement unit configured to measure a height of the detected shield; and 
 the sound volume control unit controls the volume of the informing sound to be outputted by the informing sound output unit according to the height of the shield measured by the height measurement unit. 
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle approach informing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the shield detection unit includes a space interval measurement unit configured to measure a space interval between the detected shield and the corresponding side of the vehicle; and 
 the sound volume control unit controls the volume of the informing sound to be outputted by the informing sound output unit according to the space interval measured by the space interval measurement unit. 
 
     
     
       7. The vehicle approach informing device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the shield detection unit includes a height measurement unit configured to measure a height of the detected shield; and 
 the sound volume control unit controls the volume of the informing sound to be outputted by the informing sound output unit according to the height of the shield measured by the height measurement unit. 
 
     
     
       8. The vehicle approach informing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the shield detection unit includes a height measurement unit configured to measure a height of the detected shield; and 
 the sound volume control unit controls the volume of the informing sound to be outputted by the informing sound output unit according to the height of the shield measured by the height measurement unit. 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle approach informing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the informing sound output unit outputs a pedestrian warning sound with a speaker positioned for sound output directed external to the vehicle. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle approach informing device according to  claim 9 , wherein the speaker is positioned at a front end of the vehicle external to an operator compartment of the vehicle.